Born to the Titan sun god Helios and the nymph Perse, Circe is an outcast from the moment she enters the world. Unlike her radiant and powerful father or her captivatingly beautiful mother, Circe possesses no divine strength or allure. Instead, she is mocked by her family for her strange, mortal-like voice and her lack of supernatural gifts. Growing up in her father’s golden halls, Circe is overshadowed by her siblings—Perses, Pasiphaë, and Aeëtes—all of whom inherit immense magical talents and ruthlessness. Isolated and longing for acceptance, Circe finds solace in the world of mortals, drawn to their fragility and raw emotions.

Her life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers a latent gift for witchcraft. In an act of defiance, she transforms a mortal, Glaucus, into a god so that they might be together forever. However, when he betrays her affections and chooses another, Circe, in a fit of jealousy and pain, turns his new love, the nymph Scylla, into a monstrous creature. This act of magic, dark and unnatural, terrifies the Olympian gods and Titans alike. As punishment, Zeus and Helios banish Circe to the remote island of Aiaia, where she is sentenced to live in eternal exile.

Though devastated by her isolation, Circe gradually comes into her own. She hones her craft, mastering the art of potions, spells, and transformations. She learns to wield her power not as a curse but as a means of self-preservation and autonomy. Over time, she encounters figures from mythology, each encounter shaping her understanding of power, love, and fate. The mighty god Hermes visits her island, bringing news of the world beyond her shores, while the brutal and lustful sailors who wash up on her island soon learn to fear her abilities as she turns them into swine.

Her most significant encounters come with mortals who reshape her destiny. When Daedalus, the famed inventor, arrives, Circe experiences a rare moment of companionship and admiration, though their time together is fleeting. Later, she is forced into an unwanted tryst with the ruthless sea god Poseidon, which results in the birth of her son, Telegonus. Determined to protect him, Circe raises him in secret, aware that the gods often meddle in the lives of those they deem unworthy.

Her fateful meeting with Odysseus, the cunning hero of Troy, changes everything. Unlike other men, Odysseus does not fear her but instead engages her in conversation, fascinated by her intellect and loneliness. The two form an intense bond, leading to a brief yet deeply meaningful love affair. When he eventually leaves, Circe is left to raise their son alone, navigating the trials of motherhood in a world where divine and mortal beings are at constant odds.

Years later, Telegonus, now grown, embarks on a journey to seek out his father, unwittingly setting into motion events that lead to Odysseus’s death. Telemachus, Odysseus’s firstborn son with Penelope, arrives on Aiaia with his mother, and Circe is faced with unexpected choices. Unlike his father, Telemachus is thoughtful, kind, and weary of the burdens of heroism. As Circe contemplates her future, she is forced to confront her own divine nature and decide whether she will remain immortal or choose a mortal life—a life where she can finally forge her own fate.

Circe is a tale of transformation, resilience, and the power of carving one’s own path. With exquisite prose and a fresh feminist perspective, Madeline Miller gives voice to a figure who has long been overshadowed by the men of Greek mythology, turning her into a protagonist of her own epic journey.